By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
March 18, 2004

LE MARS - Dorothy Arens and Deb Madsen, two volunteers from St. James parish in Le Mars, are directing a youth choir to help teach children the importance of singing, cantering and lecturing during Mass.

"We have children in grades third through eighth," Madsen said. "Any child can come and participate. It is neat watching these children bloom. It is the most awesome experience sitting back and watching them grow from one year to the next. Some kids don't like to get up in front of people and would rather do petitions. Everyone has different gifts and we like them to tell us where they like to share those at."

The two women have been helping with the youth choir for the last eight years. They hold practices each Sunday after Mass to help the children prepare for the four Masses the choir performs each year.

"Dorothy plans the liturgy and we get the petitions from Father," Madsen said. "The children do the prayers of the faithful and all of the singing. It is all kids, the kids even do the cantering."

Arens said that helping children learn to participate in each part of the Mass will hopefully help them to continue the traditions of the church later in their lives.

"I want them to know that they have a gift of prayer and that gift should be given," Arens said. "I honestly feel that there has to be a continuum. If we don't teach the young, I don't think we are going to have it (singing and lecturing). They could do it in their high school, college or adult choir."

Madsen agreed with Arens and said that it is important to help children participate in the Mass on their own level, which will hopefully prepare them to participate on the adult level.

"Children see adults in these activities and sometimes when they see adults doing this they want to be a part of it," Madsen said. "We are getting them ready for the adult part in the church. I hope they take away a deeper understanding of their faith from this - coming together and working together on all different aspects of the liturgy."

Madsen also said that during the practices she and Arens will try and incorporate lessons on the Catholic faith and the liturgy.

"They are getting a religion class, too," Madsen said. "We do a lot with prayer and explaining Lent and the colors of the church and the seasons of the church. Plus we do a background on the liturgy."

Along with teaching the children about their faith, each time the choir meets Arens said that she asks the children to say petitions and pray to St. Cecelia, patron saint of music.

"I appreciate if they have any petitions because I think that is very important as a group to do," Arens said. "We always like to say a pray to St. Cecelia. I told them we have all kinds of patron saints that we have to call on. St. Cecelia is for the music. It is always nice to have that because maybe the can carry that with them."

After many years of working with children, Arens said that the youth choir has been a learning experience for her too.

"You learn through the years what is good and what is not good," Arens said. "But I love doing this. It has really shown me that the more I can help people become confident and the more good they hear, the more I get back in good. I think that is living a Christian life. I really appreciate the commitment that the children put forth and their parents are a big help on that as well. It is amazing gift that they give back to the community. I hope that they are learning that their gifts are wonderful for their faith."